The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-01

further notice.
Demands of Railway Freight Handlers
New YORK, Jan. 3l.-The strike took new
phase to-day. 1t involves not only the add
tional longshoremen whose intention to 60 out
was related in these dispatches last night and
who went out this morning; but also the freight
handlers of the railroads, thus Tightening the
blockade on transportation and adding other
thousands to the thousands already idle. APP
parently by preconcerted action, committees of
the freight handlers OF number of the roads
to-day presented formulated demands on man.
ayers. and it is understood that similar demands
will be made the managers of all the rail
roads leading into this city. The freight-hand-
lers of the Pennsylvania road employed on the
companv's North-river piers to-day notified the
managers that unless the rate of wages was in
creased from IL cents to 20 cents per hour
q general strike would follow all along
the company's docks. The company was given
until tomorrow noon to consider the demand.
Their demands are 20 cents per hour from A.
NJ. to P. NJ, with an hour for dinner; all over
time to be paid at the rate of 25 cents an hour
at present the men have regular hour for
dinner. The freight handlers of the company
are in sympathy with the strikers. There
about 1000 men employed on the piers De-
mands were also made by the freight handlers
employed by the Central Railroad of New jersey
and by the New York. Lake Erie & Western for
increase of wages, and threatening to immedi-
Htely Quit work if their demands were not COM
piled with. The concessions asked for were
fused absolutely. The traffic manager of the
Erie said that committee from the company's
iaborers called upon him this morning and asked
tor an increase of pay from IL TO 70 cents per
hour on ordinary time. and from 20 to % cents
per Lour on extra time They asked for reply
by to morrow morning, at which time they
would strike unless their demands were COM
piled with. The company have decided not to
concede anything, but, as the traffic manager
said, twill stand firm as rock, and the other
companies will stand with u.s." At the office of
the New Jersey Central it was ascertained that
a committee Of FIVE waited on the receivers this
morning, and presented a demand for increased
wages for freight handlers and other employees,
and insisting on an answer at OF before o'clock
this afternoon. The receivers met them again
at that hour. and gave them written reply, in
which they declined to comply with the demands
Of the employees The committee took their de-
parture and Immediately afterwards the freight
handlers of the company on Pier IA went out on
strike. The demands of the men were as fol-
lows
Frsgbt-handlers to receive 20 cents per hour
and 20 cents for overtlme checkers to receive $50
month; receiving clerks, $65 delivery clerks.
$780, weighers. 49, tracing clerks, $70 notice
clerks, $40; checkers. upstairs. $50; general
clerks, 500: register clerks or book-keepers, $780,
float captains, 500: watchmen $50; ferry agents.
$40; gatemen, $55; deck hands. $780, way bill
clerks, 500; each and every man employed in
any of the above positions to receive equal pay
for the same positions. They further demand an
investigation into the cause of the discharge of
twOt captains of floats, and if they were dis
charged without cause, their reinstatement; that
certain pier foreman give up his position AS
foreman, or stop keeping boarding house. and
refrain from levying assessments on Italians for
hiring them in place of discharged men. They
declare that they will not handle ''scab" frsigh.
The document concludes follows
'sWe also demand that the coal strike, so far
as the Central railroad of New Jersey is con-
cerned, be settled in twenty-four hours after
presenting this petition"
The reply of Receivers Kennedy and Harris
covered the following points:
1--WE are now paying, and always expect to
pay, current rates OF wages to our employees of
all classes. If any of them think they are in
adequately compensated, they have simply to
apply to their superior officer, and if he cannot
concede the advances asked, we admit their
right to retire from employment on such
reasonable notice as they would expect and we
would give them should we desire to dispense
with their services We should not consider
ourselves justified in dismissing our whole force
of men at twenty-four hours notice, nor do we
recognize the justice of reply being demanded
from u.s. in matters of this importance, upon
The four hours notice that we have received
I'VE expect to give equal pay to clerks and
others who are employed in similar positions,
provided they are equally qualified to hll their
positions, but we cannot recognize the property
Of paying all alike without regard to experience
Or efficiency.
IF any man in our service has cause to com
plain of injustice oppression of any kind. he
can always obtain a hearing by making persona
application to his superior officers, and if his
complaint is well founded he will receive prompt
redress.
''Youstate that you will not handle any freieh
that has been previously handled by non-unior
men. As receivers of a company that is com
mon carrier. it is our duty TO handle any freigh
presented to US, whether the same has been pre-
viously handled by non-union men or otherwise
We shall do our utmost to perform this duty.
"You demand that the coal strike be settled
as far as our railroad is concerned, i'll twenty
four hours This strike does not exist anon,
our employees. tits for others, not for Us, t
settle We recognize ne connection between
the men engaged in handling our freight and tn
men engaged in handling coal, who are not j
our employ, but in the employ of persons ship
ping by our lines We shall deal with the mel
in our service and the coal-handlers must dea
with their employers"
The freight Handlers of all the railroad com
panies terminating in Jersey City and Hoboke
mands are not conceded by the companies tn
handlers will 60 out on strike at noon tomorrow
Their present wages are IL cents an hour and 2
cents for overtime. They demand 20 cents a
hour, or $l2 per week, and Is cents for overtime
The custom house officials on all the piers
Jersey City went out on strike this Afternoon
Their grievances are not known. At meetin
Of the Jersey City police commissioners to-niet
resolution was offered to rescind the special p
lice power granted ths l01 Pinkerton men 81
gagged in. protecting the Delaware. Lackawann
g. Western Company's yards The resolution
after spirited discussion, was lost by tie vot
The freight-handlers of the Pennsylvania 4
New Jersey Central railroad companies he
large meetings together tonight. A new ult
matum was presented to the companies decla
ing that unless an increase Of wages was granite
before IL A. NJ. tomorrow all hands would q
work at noon
The Programme for To-Day.
New YORK. Jan. 3L-The Star says that the
will he added to the list of strikers, to-morro,
the brakemen, trainmen, track-men, machinist
carpenters. painters and other mechanics 81